Kenichi Tago topples Tien Chen Chou to penetrate into quarter-final of 2011 Japan Open Super Series
Japan’s Kenichi Tago powered his way into the Men’s Singles quarter-final as he toppled Chinese Taipei’s Tien Chen Chou in the round-of-16 of the 2011 Japan Open Super Series, in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, September 22.
World Number 20, Tago played to his full potential against the young Taipei shuttler who made an upset in the opening round when he crushed former World and Olympic Champion, Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia. The Japanese played positive badminton throughout
the match and finished it in straight games by taking just 37 minutes of court time.
Right from the opening points, Tago kept the pace of the rallies at the highest level. His jumping smashes were fabulous as they were landing perfectly down the line. Tien Chen had no answer to the aggression and positive play of the Japanese shuttler, who
was playing on a different level.
The higher ranked Tago was also enjoying the support of the huge home crowd by playing up to expectations. Until the interval in the first game, the Japanese was leading with a decent 11-8 margin.
After the break, Tago injected more power into the rallies to stretch his lead against the Taipei shuttler, who was making many errors in the first game. Tago ended the opening set in impressive style after 22 minutes, with a margin of 21-17.
Tien Chen played different badminton in the second set of the match, but his experienced rival was quicker in all areas of the court. Tago controlled the pace from the start and maintained his control in the entire second game. Until the interval, the Japanese
was miles ahead by reaching 11-6.
In the second-half of the game, the Japanese shuttler remained positive and calm and eventually won the set in just 15 minutes by the margin of 21-11. Tago finished the match in straight sets with a wonderful margin of 21-17 and 21-11.
In the Men’s Singles quarter-final, Tago will take on the winner of the encounter between Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei and China’s Wang Zhengming.
Tags: